military wife question about insurance?

Question

well, i have open enrollment for health insurance at my work right now and my husband also just joined the marines and will be shipped off on Nov. 5th. i was wondering how good military insurance is for dependents. dont they pay less for dependents then they do for inlisties? i just wanted to know which insurance i should go with, and if i will be covered under military insurance as soon as he leaves for boot camp? and also if anyone knows the percentage they cover for depents on certain things such as dental, etc? thanks in advance.

Answer 1

First, you won't be covered by military insurance until such time as he has graduated boot (because they can terminate his enlistment at any time prior to that). So until then you're not going to be covered by his insurance benefits.

Secondly, if you have a military treatment facility nearby, then it is FAR better to go with military insurance, as you will be covered 100% for all treatment at no cost (providing the MTF treats civilians -- which most do). If you don't have an MTF, then you'll have to pay co-pays, and those can be comparable to public health policies, so you'd have to do your homework and find out which is the better bargain.

Dental is a pain (and again, you'll have to wait till he graduates to get coverage). While I can't speak for the Marines, the Navy coverage through Concordia is dismal. You get $1200 a year, and heaven help you if you've got SEVERE dental issues...that $1200 goes fast, after that, it's all out of pocket, not to mention that most major procedures are only covered 50%.
As an example, a root canal & crown will cost about $1000....but Concordia only covers 50% of that, so $500 is out of YOUR pocket. So be prepared for that.

Answer 2

Go with the military insurance. It'll cover you 100% for health at no extra cost to him.

The dental is 80% for things like cavaties, but normal 6 month check ups are covered 100%. Luckily my kids have not ever had a cavaty!

Dental he will pay for, we pay less than $20 a month for 4 dependents (sorry don't have LES in front of me, so don't know exact amount, I want to say it's $17 something.)

I had a breast reduction several years ago. It did not cost me a dime (and I was able to go to a civilian doctor.) We did get the bill from the hospital and it was about $10,000. But it was medically necessary, so it was totally covered by tricare.

Answer 3

Tricare Prime has NO monthly cost and zero out of pocket costs when you see your PCM and get your Script's at a base pharmacy. Standard: no monthly cost, and a small co pay.

Dental: $10/month for one, $32 /month for the entire family. 2 free cleanings a year, one set of xrays per person. everything is covered at anywhere from 20-80%. It is one of the better dental insurances out there with regards to what it covers and pays for.

you will covered under Standard as soon as you are entered into DEERS. Prime and dental require enrollment. be advised that if you choose another insurance, Tricare is ALWAYS the secondary payer.

Answer 4

go with the military insurance. it covers everything. we just had a baby and there was NO bill what so ever. dental is great too. make sure your hubby fills out all the correct paperwork. make sure you (and kids) are covered under the "Prime" insurance (for Navy, anyway). Prime is just about 100%. One of the best things about Military (navy, anyway) is the medical benefits. No co-pays or deductables, except, dental (fillings ect). Good luck. If we ever get out of the service, I will miss the insurance the most. Dont forget since you are new to all of this, almost everyone from car insurance to credit card bills, will give you a military discount, you must ask for it though!

Answer 5

SGLI is Term Insurance Coverage which strictly provides coverage in case of death. However, this is not the most favorable life insurance coverage as it does not offer any living benefits compared to "Permanent Whole Life Insurance". Having "Permanent Insurance" allows you to enjoy tax free advantages is the accumulation of the cash value portion of the policy which grows every year as you pay your policy premiums. The "Permanent Coverage" is more expensive, however you do have the savings portion of your payments which contribute to "paid up additions" in form of earned dividends. (Dividends are not Guaranteed). Also, permanent life insurance provides certain riders and waivers which are not found in Term Insurance that can help fill in the gaps. One major rider is "Long Term Care Coverage or LTC Rider" This riders allows you depending on the insurance company to access to 90% of the death benefit to pay for your Long Term Care needs. If one is injured or simply becomes ill, this will trigger the living benefits of Permanent Life Insurance.

Another issue is Insurability. Since "Term Insurance" is temporary coverage, what happens once you are discharged? You no longer have life insurance, and once your become older your health becomes a risk every year and may disqualify you from getting Life Insurance. It is important to LOCK in your premiums when you are young and healthy to secure the best possible ratings. Also, your payments will be much lower at 30 years of age V.S. 50 and Up because of the health risks.

Answer 6

I don't think your insurance will start until after he has graduated from boot camp and can get the necesssary paperwork done and get your ID card. the military medical insurance is great, I'm enrolled in tricare prime and no copays, etc. the dental I believe my husband pays for me $9 a month or so and it covers twice yearly cleanings and xrays, fillings and other work, there is a small copay though.

Answer 7

military insurance is good...but you need to be near facilities. There aren't too many private practices that take TRICARE Prime. It, for me, stinks because even though I less than 20 miles from the biggest Marine Corps base in the area (Quantico) they have NO pediatric dentist and because I'm actually Army, I'd have to go to Belevoir for medical. And forget an eye doctor! Thank God my husbands civilian job still covers our medical while he is deployed w the NG!!!

Answer 8

You should be totally covered. You need to be enrolled in DEERS and TRICARE Prime to be covered. You pay a co-pay under TRICARE Standard until you are enrolled in Prime. Basic dental care like cleanings are covered. There is a small fee for extras like fillings, crowns, or other procedures. Those co-pays are not that expensive, though. You have to go to your nearest ID office to become enrolled. You can email me if you have more q's.

http://www.tricare.mil/mybenefit/index.jsp

Answer 9

you may want to consider doing both honestly.....i dont have my own insurance atm and wish i did. there are times when i have to wait a month or more to get into a mtf for an appointment (or to a doctor they refer me to) and the only solution tricare can give me is pay out of pocket to go to a different doctor...my daughter needs a medication refill that the doctor insists on seeing her before he will refill it and i cant get her in until december 10th to see him.....its gonna cost me almost $300 out of pocket (and this is tricare prime btw) to go to a doctor that is normally covered by tricare but i have to pay because its not her PCM. and dental i would definitely have another plan....they cover 100% for 2 exams, xrays, and cleaning a year. after that it depends on your rank what the copay is

here is a list of them from the website:

http://www.tricaredentalprogram.com/tdptws/enrollees/premiums/activeduty_costshares.jsp

Answer 10

TRICARE is not a bad way to go..but something you may want to think about. Check with your employer and see if they have a TRICARE supplement. For a small deduction from your pay (mine is $10 a month) you can see ANY Dr. and what TRICARE does not cover the supplement will.